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Council Bluffs, IA Road Trips

Drivers starting from Council Bluffs, IA have 31 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 143-mile quick runs to 329-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Council Bluffs, IA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

city and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

31

Longest Drive

328.9 mi

Monona, IA

Quickest Drive

2h 45m

Mitchellville, IA

Plan Around Council Bluffs, IA

Trips from Council Bluffs, IA

Driving from Council Bluffs, IA

The typical drive from Council Bluffs, IA covers about 235 miles and takes around 4h 33m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 329 miles (6h 41m), while the shortest is just 143 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Council Bluffs, IA most often head toward Monona, IA (328.9 mi, 6h 41m), Keokuk, IA (312.3 mi, 6h 2m), Elkader, IA (310.7 mi, 6h 16m), Peosta, IA (309.5 mi, 6h 3m), and Fayette, IA (290.2 mi, 5h 59m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in IA currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 235-mile trip from Council Bluffs, IA, budget about $35 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 31 mapped routes leaving Council Bluffs, IA and 0 routes heading into Council Bluffs, IA, covering 31 total connections. Distances range from 143 to 329 miles.

The longest mapped route from Council Bluffs, IA covers 329 miles and takes approximately 6h 41m. Shorter options start at just 143 miles.

The average route from Council Bluffs, IA runs about 235 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 33m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 235-mile trip from Council Bluffs, IA costs roughly $35 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Council Bluffs, IA include Monona, IA, Keokuk, IA, Elkader, IA and Peosta, IA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Council Bluffs, IA by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

62,564

Median Income

$64,092

Median Home Value

$164,300

Median Age

39.0

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Council Bluffs, IA at a Glance

Founded

1854

Elevation

1,089 ft

Area

46 mi²

Sister Cities

Kandahar Herat

Notable People from Council Bluffs, IA

A sampling of people born in Council Bluffs, IA.

Lee de Forest

Lee de Forest

1873–1961

American inventor (1873–1961)

Art Farmer

Art Farmer

1928–1999

American jazz trumpeter (1928–1999)

Harry Langdon

Harry Langdon

1884–1944

American actor and comedian (1884–1944)

Ernest B. Schoedsack

Ernest B. Schoedsack

1893–1979

American film director, cinematographer, producer, and photographer (1893-1979)

Thomas Gilman

Thomas Gilman

1994

American amateur wrestler

David Yost

David Yost

1969

American actor (born 1969)

John S. McCain, Jr.

John S. McCain, Jr.

1911–1981

United States Navy admiral (1911-1981)

Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen

Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen

1931–2017

diver (1931-2017)

Joan Freeman

Joan Freeman

1942

American actress

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Council Bluffs, IA.

Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial

Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial

statue in Council Bluffs, United States of America

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Grenville M. Dodge House

Grenville M. Dodge House

historic house in Iowa, United States

National Historic Landmark National Register of Historic Places listed place
RailsWest Railroad Museum

RailsWest Railroad Museum

railway station in Council Bluffs, the United States of America

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Chieftain Hotel

Chieftain Hotel

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Martin Hughes House

Martin Hughes House

house in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Willow–Bluff–3rd Street Historic District

Willow–Bluff–3rd Street Historic District

historic district in Council Bluffs, Iowa

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Lincoln-Fairview Historic District

Lincoln-Fairview Historic District

historic district in Council Bluffs, Iowa

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Haymarket Commercial Historic District

Haymarket Commercial Historic District

nationally recognized historic district located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place

City data from Wikidata (Q695565), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Council Bluffs, IA

Council Bluffs is a city in Southwest Iowa, just across the Missouri River from Omaha. It is known for its casinos and ties to the transcontinental railroad. It is sometimes called "Iowa's Leading Edge."

1 Historic Squirrel Cage Jail (Pottawattamie County Jail), 226 Pearl St, ☏ +1 712 323-2509, [email protected]. One of the last lazy Susan style-rotary jails in existence. $7, $6 60+, $5 aged 6-12. 2 Lewis and Clark Monument, 29385 Monument Rd, ☏ +1 712 328-4650. A nice view of the Missouri River as well as mountain bike trail. Kanesville Tabernacle, 222 East Broadway, ☏ +1 712-322-0500. Mormon Trail Historic Site has a museum and monuments to the migration that the Mormons took. 3 Union Pacific Museum, 200 Pearl St, ☏ +1 712-329-8307. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Details the beginnings of the Union Pacific Railroad and the role it played in westward expansion and has artifacts dating back to the 1860s. 4 Grenville M. Dodge House. House museum. (updated Oct 2020) 5 RailsWest Railroad Museum. (updated Oct 2020)

Plenty to do for the gambler. Most of the casinos can be seen along I-80. Since the state of Nebraska doesn't allow gambling, Omaha dwellers cross the state border and do their gambling here. 1 Ameristar Casino Hotel, 2200 River Rd (I-29 exit 53), ☏ +1 712 328-8888, toll-free: +1 866 MORE-FUN (6673-386). 2 Harrah's Casino and Hotel, 1 Harrahs Blvd (I-29 exit 53A), ☏ +1 712 329-6000. 3 Horseshoe Casino, 2701 23rd Ave (I-80/I-29 exit 1B N), ☏ +1 712 323-2500, toll-free: +1-800-328-2946, fax: +1 712 322-9354. 4 Taco Ride. Billed as the world's largest weekly group bicycle ride. Every Thursday night in the summer, hundreds of cyclists ride the Wabash Trace through Iowa to a restaurant in Mineola, Iowa to consume thousands of tacos and margaritas. The trail begins in the parking lot of Lewis Central High School.

Buck Snort, 25 Scott St, ☏ +1 712 328-2825. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F Sa 11AM–10PM. Sports bar. Nine different deep-fried appetizers (the "combo" is sized for one person), plus hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. Kids' menu.

Best Western Crossroads of the Bluffs, 2216 27th Ave, ☏ +1 712 322-3150, fax: +1 712 322-6233. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Free breakfast and high-speed Internet. 5 mi from Eppley Airfield. SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 3216 Plaza View Dr, ☏ +1 712 256-6500, fax: +1 712 256-6501. Free breakfast and Internet.

1 Eppley Airfield Airfield (OMA IATA), 4501 Abbott Dr, Omaha (enter the city via I-480E toward I-29), ☏ +1 402 661-8017, fax: +1 402 661-8025. Most likely airport to use, located just across the river in Omaha. 2 Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF IATA), 16801 McCandless Ln #2, ☏ +1 712 322-2284. Private planes. Visitors from an easterly city, like Des Moines will continue west on I-80, or from the west through Omaha until crossing over the Missouri River. To the north and south are Sioux City and Kansas City, respectively, which connect to Council Bluffs via I-29/I-680 and I-29/US-59. Omaha Metro operates the blue and yellow routes to Council Bluffs. These routes run from 19th street and Douglas in Downtown Omaha to downtown Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College, Mall of the Bluffs and Mid America Center. The westbound buses stop on Dodge street before going to the 16th street Mall and 19th street and Douglas in Omaha. Amtrak serves neighboring Omaha via its California Zephyr route, running between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago.

Omaha Metro has two routes that serve Council Bluffs: blue and yellow. The blue route stops at the Iowa Western Community College, Mall of the Bluffs. The yellow route goes to the Mid America Center.

Travel tips adapted from Council Bluffs on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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